Darts scoring works by adding the value of where each dart lands: singles count face value, doubles count twice the number, trebles count three times the number, the outer bull is 25, and the inner bull is 50. In 501, you subtract each three-dart visit from your remaining score and usually need a double or bull to finish.
Last reviewed: 23 August 2026. This guide focuses on standard steel-tip scoring and common 501-style play. Other darts games can use the same board values but different win conditions.
The direct answer
Score each dart by the segment it lands in. If it lands in a large single segment, it scores the number shown. If it lands in the outer double ring, it scores double that number. If it lands in the inner treble ring, it scores triple that number.
The bull area is different. The outer bull is worth 25 points. The inner bullseye is worth 50 points and can also count as a double for finishing in standard double-out games.
Board values
| Board area | Value | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single | Face value | Single 20 = 20 |
| Double | Number x 2 | Double 16 = 32 |
| Treble | Number x 3 | Treble 20 = 60 |
| Outer bull | 25 | Outer bull = 25 |
| Inner bull | 50 | Bullseye = 50 |
How to total a visit
A normal visit is up to three darts. Add the three dart scores together to get the visit score. For example, treble 20, single 20 and double 16 scores 60 + 20 + 32, which equals 112.
If a dart misses the scoring area or bounces out and does not stay in the board, it normally scores zero. In organised play, score only darts that remain in the board until the score is called, unless the competition rules say otherwise.
How to recognise doubles and trebles
The double ring is the thin outer ring around the edge of the scoring area. A dart in double 12 scores 24. A dart in double 20 scores 40, which is why double 20 is often called tops.
The treble ring is the thin inner ring roughly halfway between the bull and the outside doubles. A dart in treble 19 scores 57. A dart in treble 20 scores 60.
The larger wedge areas between those rings are singles. A single 20 above the treble ring and a single 20 below the treble ring both score 20. The ring, not the visual size of the bed, decides the multiplier.
How 501 scoring works
In 501, each player starts on 501 points. After each visit, subtract the visit score from the remaining total. If you score 85 on your first visit, your score goes from 501 to 416.
The aim is to reach exactly zero before your opponent. Under common double-out rules, the final dart must land in a double or the inner bull. That means scoring is not only addition; it is also controlled subtraction.
Subtraction examples
If you start on 501 and score 60, your remaining score is 441. If your next visit is 100, your remaining score is 341. If your next visit is 85, your remaining score is 256.
Near the end of a leg, subtraction becomes more tactical. If you have 82 left and score 50 with the first dart, you have 32 left and can finish on double 16. If you have 62 left and hit single 12 first, you leave 50 for bull.
These examples show why scoring and counting belong together. The dart that scores the most is not always the dart that leaves the best next target.
Why doubles matter
Doubles matter because they often finish the leg. If you have 40 left, double 20 wins. If you have 32 left, double 16 wins. If you have 50 left, the inner bull can win.
This changes the way good players score. A player may choose a lower target to leave a preferred double rather than simply chasing the highest possible score with every dart.
What is a bust?
A bust happens when a player cannot legally use the score from the visit. In double-out 501, you bust if you go below zero, leave one, or reach zero without hitting the required double or bull.
For example, if you have 40 left and hit treble 20, you have scored too much and the visit is bust. If you have 32 left and hit single 16, then single 16, you have reached zero without a double, so the visit is also bust under standard double-out rules.
When a visit busts, the score usually returns to what it was at the start of that visit. That is why counting before you throw matters.
Calling and checking scores
In casual darts, one player may call their own score. In league or match play, a scorer or marker may call it. Either way, the score should be agreed before darts are removed from the board.
Removing darts too early causes disputes. If a dart is close to a wire, pause, confirm the segment, call the total, then retrieve the darts. This habit protects both players and makes the game calmer.
If you are new, say the running total out loud: “treble 20 for 60, single 5 for 65, double 18 for 101.” It may feel slow at first, but it builds accurate scoring faster than guessing the total afterwards.
Common scoring examples
| Darts thrown | Calculation | Visit score |
|---|---|---|
| 20, 20, 20 | 20 + 20 + 20 | 60 |
| T20, T20, T20 | 60 + 60 + 60 | 180 |
| T19, 20, D16 | 57 + 20 + 32 | 109 |
| Outer bull, 20, 5 | 25 + 20 + 5 | 50 |
| Inner bull, T20, D16 | 50 + 60 + 32 | 142 |
Why 180 is the maximum score
The highest score with one dart is treble 20, worth 60. With three darts, the highest possible visit is three treble 20s: 60 + 60 + 60 = 180.
This is why callers and crowds react to 180. It is the maximum standard three-dart score. Read why they shout 180 for the match and commentary context.
Scoring versus finishing
Scoring is reducing the total. Finishing is ending the leg legally. Early in a 501 leg, scoring power matters. Near the end, finishing routes matter more.
A beginner might aim at 20 every visit because it is the highest number. That is fine at the start, but on 62, for example, a player may choose treble 10 for double 16 or single 12 for bull. The right score depends on the remaining total.
Different games use the same values
The board values stay mostly the same across many darts games. A treble 20 is still 60 in 501, Cricket and most practice games. What changes is the purpose of the score.
In 501, points reduce your total. In Cricket, only certain targets count, and the aim is to open or close numbers while managing points. In around the clock, the value may matter less than hitting the next required number in sequence.
That is why learning the board values is the foundation. Once you know how every dart scores, the different game formats become easier to understand.
Beginner counting method
Start by learning the board values, then practise adding three darts quickly. Say the score out loud after each dart: “20, 40, 60” or “60, 80, 112”. This builds the habit of knowing the visit total before removing the darts.
Next, practise subtracting from 501 in small chunks. Write down the starting score, visit score and remaining score. Accuracy matters more than speed at first.
Finally, learn common finishes from 40, 32, 24, 20 and 16. These numbers appear often because they lead to comfortable doubles.
Scoreboard notation
On many scoreboards, T20 means treble 20, D16 means double 16, S5 means single 5 and Bull means inner bull. Learning this shorthand makes checkout guides and match notes much easier to read.
Some players write only the visit score and remaining total. Others write the individual darts when practising. Individual dart notes are slower, but they reveal patterns: whether you are missing high, relying too heavily on one segment, or losing count near doubles.
Checkout awareness
Once you can score accurately, start asking what the score leaves. A visit of 95 can be excellent or awkward depending on the remaining total. A smaller score can sometimes be smarter if it leaves a preferred double.
This is the bridge from beginner scoring to match scoring. You are no longer only adding darts; you are choosing numbers that make the next visit easier.
Common mistakes
- Confusing doubles and trebles: the outer ring is double; the inner narrow ring is treble.
- Counting the bull as 100: the inner bull is 50, not 100.
- Forgetting bounce-outs: a dart usually needs to remain in the board to score.
- Adding when you should subtract: in 501, subtract the visit from your remaining total.
- Ignoring the finish: high scoring is less useful if it leaves a poor checkout.
Practice drill
Throw ten visits and write down every dart individually. Do not just record the final visit total. Recording each dart helps you learn the board and catch arithmetic mistakes.
Then play a subtraction drill from 301. Throw three darts, subtract the score, and stop when you reach a finish. If you bust, reset to the score at the start of the visit. This teaches scoring and finishing together.
For a second drill, throw only at doubles for five minutes and call the value before each dart. Double 12 is 24, double 18 is 36, double 20 is 40. This makes finishing maths more automatic.
Equipment that helps
A clear dartboard makes scoring easier because the segment boundaries are visible. Add dartboard surrounds for safer home practice and use a measured line or dartboard stand where needed.
For throwing consistency, browse darts, dart sets and darts accessories. Scoring knowledge works best when the board and darts are consistent.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
Related reading
For next steps, read the highest score in darts, the highest score with one dart, the simple rules of darts, whether you can go past zero and what the Big Fish is.
Sources used
- PDC rules of darts.
- PDC Europe rules overview.
- Darts501 dart game rules.
- Dartshopper 501 rules guide.
- Sky Sports darts jargon glossary.
Bottom line
Score darts by where each dart lands: singles are face value, doubles are twice the number, trebles are three times the number, outer bull is 25 and inner bull is 50. In 501, add the visit, subtract it from your remaining score, and finish exactly on a legal double or bull.
FAQ
How much is a treble 20?
Treble 20 is worth 60 points.
How much is the bullseye?
The outer bull is 25 and the inner bullseye is 50.
What is the highest three-dart score?
The highest standard three-dart score is 180.
Do bounce-outs count?
Usually no. A dart normally needs to stay in the board until the score is called.
